Bug exterminator



w. A. JOHN-SON.

BUG EXTERMINATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1920.

' 1,415,358. Patented y 9, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- I M a4 HI H I'L'I Hi gvvua'nfoz WALTER A. JOHNS N W.A. JOHNSON.

BUG EXTERMINATOR.

l FILED SEPT.28, 1920.

Patented May 9, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gum/r WALT; R A. JOHNSON W. A. JOHNSON.

BUG EXTERMINATOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1920.

1,415,358. Patented May 922.

3 SHEETS- 3- gwue ntoz WALTER A. JOHNSON tlhli l lrllfi TATES WALTm A.JOHNSON, F ROCHESTER, IJIINNESOT.A., ASSIG'NOR T0 PIONEER IVIANU-FACTUBING COMPANY, OF ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA, A. CORPORATION OF MINNE-sorrA.

BUG EXTERMINATOR.

Application filed September 28, 1920.

T 0 all w 710m it may concern:

Be it 'known that I, TVALTERA. JOHNSON, a' citizen of the United Statesresiding at Rochester in the county of lmsted and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Bug Enterminators,of which the following LISYEL speclfication.

This invention relates to potato bug destroyers and the main object isto provide a practical machine for gatherin'g'and k lling potato bugsandother similar insects in an eiiicient and speedy manner. Further objectswill 'be disclosed in the course of "the specification. The machineembodying the principles of my invention is clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view o'fthe machine, with a few of the partsomitted.

Fig. 2 is-a detail sectional view showing one of thepre-ferredconstruction of plant rappers.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the machine.

Fig. t is a'detail'sectional view'on the line 4-4- in Fig. 3,showing therelative positions of'the ground wheels,receivingpans and rappers. I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental section on the line 55 in Fig. '1.

Fig. 6 shows in perspective, a modified form of roller which may be usedin the ripper frame. I

Ullbjbtmatter of this invention as hereinafter claimedis also'disclosedin a patent application filed by me on November 29th, 192 for potato bugexterminator, Ser. No. 427,099, allowed October 2 tth, 1921.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, 7designates a mainframe which is supported on two suitable ground wheels 8. The machine asshown is pushed by a handle piece 9 on a shaft 10 secured tothe frame,but it is understood that it may be so constructed that it may bepropelled by either horses or tractor if so desired.

Fixed to the hub of one of the wheels 8 is a sprocket gear 11 whichmeans of a sprocket chain 12 drives a pinlon 13 fixed on a countershaft14. Said shaft 14 is suitably journaled on the frame 7 and has at itsother end a sprocket gear 15 which by a chain 16 drives a pinion 17. Thepinion 17, and a bevel gear 18 to which it is rigid, bothrotate on astud shaft 19 which is fixed i na suitable Lpecificatior. of Lctterslatent.

Patented May 9, 1922.

Serial No. 413,405.

bracket 20 on the main frame. The bevel gear 18 meshes with-abevelpinion 21, which is journaled in a plate 22 on the frame (see Fig. 5)whereitis retained in its proper position by a'flange 23.

Avertically disposed squarebar 2a is slidably positioned :in a squarehole 25 in the bevel pinion 21. The bar 24 is further supported andretained in vertical position by being similarly slidably guided in abearing member 26 which is rotatably retained. in a bracket 27 which isfixed on the main frame by bolts 28. A set screw 29 in the member 26serves to secure'the bar 24in any vertical position desired.

The lower end'of the bar 2% is provided with a rapper frame consistingof a number ofradially extending horizontal'arms 30 and a downwardlyprojecting arm 30. Said frame and arms are subject to a number ofmodifications, each of which is particularly adapted to be used undervarious circumstances and upon plants in their successive stages ofgrowth. Thus in Figures 3 and at is shown a rapper frame each arm 30 ofwhich is provided with a number of lashes 31 suspended therefrom, thisform being especially adapted for use on full grown plants. In Fig. 2 isshown a rapper frame in which is journaled a roller 32 under each arm30; each ofsaid rollers being provided with longitudinally positionedrows of lashes Adjacent the outer endof'each of these rollers 32 is aspring member 34: which is secured at its-end' to the frame 30 and whichjvieldingly presses with its lower end against the roller preventing itfrom rotating too fast when the machine is in operation. The pressure ofthese springs 34 against the rollers 32 is suitably regulated by setscrews 35. This structure as shown in Fig. 2v is found to be especiallyadaptable for removing bugs from plants of medium growth. For removingbugs from very young plants, a frame similar to that shown in Figure 2is used but the rollers 32 are preferably provided with brush bristles86, instead of the lashes 33.

Suspended near the side of the rapper frame and extending partlythereunder, are two receiving pans 37, each of which contains a suitableamount of poisonous liquid 38 such as kerosene, Paris green orturpentine. The rear ends of the pans 37 are suspended by inclined pipehangers 39 which are pivotally secured at their lower ends at 40 to thepans and at their upper ends are swingingly secured at 4L1 in adjustingmembers 4L2. Said members 42 are at their opposite ends sildably securedon a rod 43 which is secured to the main frame 7 by suitable bracketsL4. The members f2 are slidably supported on an angle iron 45, securedto the frame 7, and have bolts 16 adapted to engage in slots 47 in saidangle iron, this enables said members 42 to be transversely adjusted andsecured in any position on the machine desired; it being obvious thatwhen such adjustments are made corresponding movements of the pans 37 toand from each other are also affected. The front ends of the pans 37 maybe suspended in any suitable manner, a preferred way being illustratedin Fig. 3. In this view is shown an inwardly projecting apron 48, whichmay or may not be used as found necessary under various conditions. Tothe front end of this apron is secured a flexible strap l9 having aseries of perforations 50 in its upper end, any of which may be buttonedover a stud 51 on the members a2, thus enabling the height of the frontends of the pans 37 to be adjusted.

The rear ends of the pans are adjusted vertically by means of segments52 which are pivotally connected at 53 at their lower end to the hangers39. Said segments are slidable in projections 54: of the members 42 andare provided with perforations adapted to be engaged by pins 55. a

With the pan supporting devices thus described, it is obvious thateither or both ends of the pans 'may be vertically adjusted as desired,and will provide means whereby they may yield upwardly when passing overbumps or high places on the ground.

In the operation of the machine, as it is being pushed forward over therow of potatoes the plants are guided in between the pans 37 by guidingfingers 56. As the plants approach the rapper frame, which rotates veryrapidly, they are quite violently shaken toward either side and brushedoff by either the lashes or brushes as described, with the result thatthe bugs are thrown into the poisonous liquid 38 and destroyed.

It is understood that various modifications may be made in the form andconstruction of thls machine and the various parts thereof, if suchmodifications are within the scope sisting of a frame mounted on wheels,two I adjusting members slidably secured one on each side of the frontpart of the frame on which they are transversely adjustable,twolongitudinally positioned receiving pans positioned under the frame,inclined hangers pivotally connected at their upper ends to saidadjusting members and adapted to support the rear ends of said pans withtheir lower rear ends, means for adjusting the inclination of saidhangers, and means for adjustably suspending the front ends of saidpans, a rapping frame rotatably mounted above the space between the twopans and means for actuating thesame. I

2. A machine of the class described consisting of a frame mounted onwheels, a receiving pan positioned longitudinally beneath the frame,means for knocking plants toward said pan, a transversely movableadjusting member secured near one side of the front end of the frame, aninclined hanger pivotally connected at its upper end to said adjustingmember and having its lower rear end pivotally connected to the rear endof the receiving pan, and means for yieldingly suspending the front endof the pan from the frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER A. JOHNSON.

